Murisa (in red jacket) shakes hands with Dzimunya after announcing his defection
Lloyd Shunje
MUTARE – The Agrippa Mutambara-led Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) has suffered a major blow in Manicaland after some of its members dumped the party and joined Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party (NPP).
Fungai Murisa from Makoni Central, who became ZimPF’s provincial chairperson following Mujuru’s split with ZimPF elders Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa, boldly announced his departure from ZimPF with other founding members of the party.
“After serious considerations, l have decided to join Mujuru together with other 38 members in many districts.
“I was ZimPF provincial chair for Manicaland for two months after we split from elders Dymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo,
“The decision to leave the ZimPF chairmanship comes after realising that Mujuru is a better brand than Mutambara. After going through Mutambara’s CV, I realised that it was an empty CV hence my choice to go back to Mujuru.
“When we were campaigning for ZimPF, we used to lie to the people that Dr Mujuru was still with us because we had realised that Manicaland likes her more than it likes Mutambara,” said Murisa.
NPP Manicaland spokesperson Norman Mbizi confirmed the arrival of new members from ZimPF.
“As we speak, Murisa and others have confirmed they are now full time NPP members, we are happy to inform you that our prodigal brothers and sisters are back.
“Our provincial leader Garikai Dzimunya officially welcomed them last week. We want them to feel at home because NPP has been their real home all along. They are welcome and they should feel free to participate in efforts to attain true independence for Zimbabwe,” said Mbizi.
ZimPF interim secretary general Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, however, said he had not yet received the information regarding the defections.
“I am not aware of that l have not received the information that some our members have joined NPP,” said Bhasikiti.local,politics
